This is the review of what I would call a milestone. This record isnÂ´t new for all
you guys who have never heard of this band. It was released in 1998 and
I have to tell you one thing in the first place to make everything clear. This record
is for me personally one of the best hardcore records and even beyond the scope of
hardcore. These 10 songs have more energy than 10 records together and IÂ´m trying
not to exaggerate. Rarely are there records that leave you speechless or that give
you a hard time trying to explain what they create in you. Damnation A.D.Â´s
"Kingdom Of Lost Souls" is such a record. This record is 8 years old and still I
think itÂ´s one of the heaviest records IÂ´ve ever heard. Sure there might be more
brutal ones but when it comes to the lyrics and the energy this record is my
personal number one. This mixture of an appealing simplicity and Mike McTernanÂ´s
voice paired with the production that is more powerful and raw than many of todayÂ´s
records. "Kingdom Of Lost Souls" is timeless. Where the "Misericordia" 10" and
the "No More Dreams Of Happy Endings" had some really awesome tracks but also have
some minor weaknesses this record has not one bad song and some of the best songs
and riffs ever.
The tension starts with the first chords of the first song "Kingdom Of Lost Souls".
ItÂ´s a simple riff but I havenÂ´t heard it anywhere else and I havenÂ´t
even discovered something like that on any other record. This first chords already
make me shiver and I donÂ´t know how many hundred times IÂ´ve listened
If I think of "In The Flesh" which has one part which just makes me want to destroy
everything where I moshed so hard in my flat that I had a headache after these
couple of seconds. ThatÂ´s these kind of intensity that I was talking about in
the beginning. "The Mortal" one of the fastest songs on this record has just pure
despair in its lyrics. ItÂ´s almost impossible to describe it but I always have
goosebumps when I hear these words: "I am not beyond the tears that are ripping
at my heart, I am not beyond the pain that tears my soul apart".
"Wait For A Day" has additional keyboards but not like current bands use them
and itÂ´s also not that "blackmetal" kind of keyboard arrangements. It fits perfect
to the overall mood of the song and is complementing the other instruments and
is also not used the whole time.
The last song "Circles" has more than two minutes introduction until the vocals
start and that reminds alot of the songs on "No More Dreams" where there are
much more instrumental only parts.
As youÂ´ll probably can imagine from my words above I could go on forever ranting
about how insane and how powerful this record is but please figure it out for
yourself. This band deserves your attention.
lb - 19/08/2006

01. Kingdom Of Lost Soul..02. Fallacies03. Turn Into Ghosts04. Give Me A Reason05. In The Flesh06. All My Life07. The Mortal08. Climbing And Climbin..09. Wait For A Day10. Circles